September 11, 2001 one of several Al Qaeda attacks on the USA. (photo credit: Guardian)
The history of Al Qaeda attacks has been an evolving one. It begins with a relatively peaceful organization that is supporting the mujahideen rebels in Afghanistan against the Soviets. In time, the organization evolves a strong anti-American position that begins to launch terrorist attacks against American interests around the world. Ultimately the Al Qaeda attacks lead to the War on Terror. The history of Al Qaeda and Al Qaeda attacks around the world are documented.
– Grayspirit’s Abstract and Commentary
Introduction
The nature of Al Qaeda attacks have evolved with the mercurial organization. The Al Qaeda of today has evolved a great deal since its birth during Russia’s Afghan War. Even with the recent death of Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda continues to actively operate in different parts of the world.
And of course, the United States continues to fight the War on Terror to prevent future Al Qaeda attacks. The Joint Resolution 23 has not yet run its course and the United States continues to actively pursue the organization, its leaders and membership a decade after the September 11 attack on America.
Map of Al Qaeda Attacks
Al Qaeda attacks are shown in the map below. The map includes terrorist attacks that were planned and executed by Al Qaeda as well as attacks with known or suspected ties to Al Qaeda.
Map of Al Qaeda attacks.
Al Qaeda Attacks: Soviet War in Afghanistan (1979-1988)
Osama bin Laden and Abdullah Azzam establish the Maktab al Khidamat in 1984. The Maktab al Kidamat is an organization designed to raise funds and recruit international volunteers to support Afghanistan mujahideen fighters against the Soviet ‘invasion’. The Maktab later evolves into Al Qaeda, but during this period, bin Laden and the USA are functionally ‘allied’ in their efforts against the Soviets.
There are no Al Qaeda attacks on US interests during this period.
Al Qaeda Attacks: Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait (1989-1996)
Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait set the stage for the evolution of a more violent Al Qaeda. After Afghanistan’s war ended, Osama Bin Laden returned to Saudi Arabia. However, bin Laden was ultimately expelled for criticizing the Saudi government’s for supporting the USA in the war on Iraq. The Saudi government had permitted the USA and its allies to deploy troops in Saudi Arabia – a move that bin Laden was strongly opposed to.
Bin Laden settles in the Sudan where he turns Al Qaeda into a strong organization that trains, funds, and supports a myriad of terrorist groups from around the world. In 1992, Al Qaeda issues the first fatwa which calls for a holy war against America. Al Qaeda and its global network of terrorist associations enters an early phase of its terror campaign.
During this period, the following Al Qaeda attacks occur:
1992: Aden, Yemen. Bombing. Two hotels are bombed in Aden, 2 tourists killed
1993: New York, USA. Bombing. The World Trade Center is attacked. It is the first time that the World Trade Center is attacked. The bomb kills six and over 1000 are wounded. In the ensuing investigation, a plot to attack other New York targets is uncovered.
1993: Jordan. Assassination. A plot to assassinate Jordanian Crown Prince Abdullah does not succeed.
1993: Mogadishu, Somalia. Insurgency. Fighters trained by Al Qaeda are involved in the killing of 8 American soldiers in an aid mission to Somalia.
1994: Manila, Philippines. Bombing. The bombing of Philippines Air flight 434 kills one passenger and injures 10. In the ensuing investigation a broader Operation Bojinka plot is uncovered with designs to attack multiple planes over the Pacific. Plans for the assassination of the Pope and President Clinton are uncovered. The last part of the plot was to crash a plane into CIA headquarters in Virginia. Trial bombings are also believed to have occurred in a mall and theater where scores of visitors were injured.
1994: Bangkok, Thailand. Bombing. A plot to bomb the Israeli embassy is uncovered.
1994: Mashad, Iran. Bombing. The Shrine of Reza is bombed and 26 worshippers are killed.
1995: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Assassination. A plot to assassinate Egypt’s President Mubarak is uncovered.
Al Qaeda Attacks: Partnered with the Taliban (1996-2000)
The US and other governments begin to pressure the Sudan over Al Qaeda’s activities. Bin Laden is ultimately expelled from Sudan in 1996 and returns to Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, the Taliban had slowly come to power. And the Taliban was to provide Osama bin Laden with a safe haven and a base for future Al Qaeda attacks.
Al Qaeda enters a new phase of organization. Instead of simply being involved with the financing and training of an international network of terrorist groups, Al Qaeda now becomes more directly involved in the planning and execution of terrorist attacks.
1998: Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Bombing. The US Embassies in these two African cities are bombed. Casualties are about 200 killed and over 5000 wounded.
2000: Aden, Yemen. Bombing. The USS Cole at port in Aden is attacked. In the bombing incident 17 are killed and 39 injured
2000: Amman, Jordan. Bombing. A plot to bomb a hotel is uncovered and foiled.
Al Qaeda Attacks: US War on Terror (2001-2011)
On September 11, 2001, Al Qaeda attacks New York a second time. This time airliners are hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Another plane crashes without hitting a target after the passengers fight the hijackers. The US War on Terror begins.
Congress authorizes the President to use whatever force necessary to go after those responsible for the September 11 hijackings. US troops are sent into Afghanistan to defeat Al Qaeda and the Taliban. The War on Terror begins to escalate in response to a series of Al Qaeda suicide bombing attacks. The Taliban are quickly defeated and are forced to seek refuge across the border in Pakistan. Al Qaeda also hides out in the mountainous regions of Pakistan.
Al Qaeda attacks during this period of time include:
2001: New York, USA. Hijacking and Suicide Attacks. – Four airliners are hijacked. Two are crashed into the World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon. A fourth crashes in Pennsylvania after passengers try to overcome the hijackers. Nearly 3,000 are killed in these Al Qaeda attacks.
2002: Bali, Indonesia. Bombings. Tourist targets are bombed, killing 202 and injuring 242.
2002: Islamabad, Pakistan. Bombing. Militants throw grenades into a Protestant church near the US Embassy and kill 5 worshipers.
2002: Djerba, Tunisia. Bombing. A Tunisian synagogue is attacked by a suicide fuel tanker and 20 killed.
2002: Karachi, Pakistan. Bombing. Suicide bombing of bus carrying French navy experts outside a Sheraton Hotel that kills 14. The US consulate is also attacked killing another 11 and wounding 45.
2002: Mombasa, Kenya. Bombing. 15 people are killed in car bomb attack. 2 missiles are also fired at but miss an Israeli airliner.
2003: Istanbul, Turkey. Bombings. Synagogues, an HSBC bank, and the British consulate are bombed. Casualties are 67 dead and over 700 injured.
2003: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bombing. Suicide bombers attack an expatriate compound, 35 killed. A second bombing claims another 17 lives.
2003: Casablanca, Morocco. Bombing. Suicide bombers set off five blasts and 32 are killed with 60 wounded.
2003: Jakarta, Indonesia. Bombing. A truck bomb kills 16 and wounds 150 at a Marriott Hotel
2003: Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Assassination. Two failed attempts to kill Pakistani President Musharaff.
2004: Madrid, Spain. Bombings. Train bombings leave 191 dead.
2004: Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Kidnapping. Militants storm the “Oasis Complex” an office and luxury resort. As many as 60 civilians were taken hostage. Saudi commandos are able to retake the resort. Over 20 are killed and another 25 injured.
2004: Manila, Philippines. Bombing. A bomb explodes on a Super Ferry that kills 116 and injures another 300 passengers.
2005: London, United Kingdom. Bombing. Underground train and bus bombings kill 56 and injures 700.
2005: Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Bombing. A resort bombing kills 88.
2007: Algiers, Algeria. Bombings. A series of car bombings leave 33 dead.
2008: Islamabad, Pakistan. Bombing. Bombing of Danish embassy, 7 killed and over 20 injured. A second bombing of the Marriot Hotel kills 54 and injures 266.
2009: Michigan, USA. Bombing. Attempted bombing of NW Airlines Flight 253.
2009: Khost, Afghanistan. Bombing. Bombing kills 7 CIA officers and 1 Jordanian officer, 6 injured
2010: England and Dubai. Bombing. Failed cargo planes bombing plot.
Al Qaeda Attacks: After Osama bin Laden (2012-present)
In May 2011, US Seal forces lead by CIA operatives track down and kill Osama bin Laden in his Pakistani hideout. Bin Laden had grown less important to Al Qaeda operations in recent years, but Al Qaeda attacks still occur in several parts of the world.
In 2011, North Africa and the Middle East was swept by the ‘Arab Spring’. For the most part, these were domestic and non-violent movements that pushed for democratic and economic reform. Using non-violent means, the governments of several countries were toppled.
Al Qaeda now exists in a highly decentralized form throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. However, it may very well be that the kind of revolution that bin Laden dreamed of but never attained in practice, is now taking place throughout the region without significant US or Al Qaeda leadership.
Recent Al Qaeda attacks include:
2012. Benghazi, Libya. Militant attack. 4 killed including the US ambassador in an attack on US consulate.
Bibliography
- Al Qaeda and Affiliates: Historical Perspective, Global Presence, and Implications for U.S. Policy, Congressional Research Service
- Al Qaida Timeline Plots and Attacks, MSNBC
- Foundation of the New Terrorism, National Commission Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
- Killing in the Name of Islam, The Economist
- Timeline: Key Events in the History of al-Qaeda, CBC News
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